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Independent candidate refuses Andrew Wilkie's request to stop using his name

Updated
Tue 4 Feb 2014, 2:15 PM AEDT

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Andrew Wilkie says Mr Willink is replicating his campaign colour scheme as well as using his name.

Hans Willink

An independent candidate for Denison in next month's state election is refusing to stop using Andrew Wilkie's name in his advertising material.

Hans Willink has taken out a newspaper advertisement stating, "Like Wilkie? Vote one Willink", without Mr Wilkie's endorsement.

The Federal independent MP has written to him asking for the advertising to stop, but Mr Willink says he does not have to.

"There are no rules which stop any candidate from using anyone's name providing they are not a candidate, Andrew is not a candidate in this election," he said.

Hans Willink says he has been a long-term admirer of Mr Wilkie, helped with his campaigns and holds similar positions to the MP.

"So I think it's perfectly reasonable for me to promote the fact that I would like to use him as a role model because it gives, in just a few words, an easy to understand description of how I might be like if I am elected."

Mr Willink says he had asked for Mr Wilkie's endorsement before the state election was called, but Mr Wilkie refused because he wanted to remain independent.

Mr Wilkie has labelled his actions dishonest.

He has written to the candidate asking him to withdraw the material which replicates his campaigning colour scheme as well as using his name without permission

The Denison independent says he has no legal recourse and hopes Mr Willink will see that some voters would view it as misleading.